Temperature-controlling device.



W. B. D. PBNNIMAN. TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING DEvIcE.

v L 0 T w Ab d u m NNw u APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1905. 933,577.

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Patepted Sept. 7, 1909.

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Snoemfoz I exemr a" E L '1 a r g v Maw 4% I arm/" witness lating temperatures,

, practically may be controlled to a unrrnn snares PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B.

TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application Spec ifigation of Letters Patent.

D. PENNIMAN, 0E BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

To all whom it may Be it known that I, N'IMAN, of Baltimore,

concern.

WILLIAM PEN- Maryland, have invented a new and.useful' Improvement in,

Temperature-Controlling Devices, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention-relates to the art of regu and more particularly to the regulation of the temperature of a heating or refrigerating medium, such as a conduit n steam or brine, passing through which it is desired the temperature shallbe uniform. In my 766,841, granted August 9, 1904, I have disclosed an apparatus and method forefiecting this purpose, which apparatus, however, is not automatic but depends upon the manipulation of the valve-mechanism of the apparatus by the workmen. And in my application Serial No. 266,649, filed June 28, p

1905,1'. have disclosed automatic means for manipulating the valve mechanism whereby the temperature in the conduit in which the heating or refrigerating medium is utilized,

' small fraction of a degree. In said last-named application there is disclosed a conduit supplied with a high temperature medium and a conduit supplied with a low tern era-ture medium which two I conduits both with the main conduit, wherein the heating or refrigerating efiect of the medium is utilized, the amount of heating or refrigerating medium passing through said high and low temperature conduits being controlled by two connected] valve's' which are simulta-' neously operated by a single'inotorso that one of said valves moves toward open posi tion while the other moves toward closed positlon, or vice versa'. In some cases,.how-

' ever, it is found desirable to change the ture' may admitting amount of fluid delivered to the main conduit by one of the high or low temperature conduits without altering the amount delivered by the other; orfit may be desirable.

to deliver fluid to the main-conduit from the a high or the low tempera ure conduit only,

I the other remaining entirely cut off or closed.

Thus, where a heating or refrigerating medium flowing through a main conduit is found to be below or above the temperature required for the desired use, such temperabe raised'by opening a valve and fluid from the {high temperature conduit, the valve in low-temperature Patent No. i

may be accomplished.

eliver into or communicate 'ing med um therethrough,

raise or boost the temperature by admitting fluid from the high temperature conduit whilethe low temperature conduit mains closed. On the other hand, if the temperature is higher than is desired for the vnext succeedin still it may be lowered by admitting flui from the low temperature conduit while the high temperature conduit is closed.

It is one of the leading objects of the resent invention to provide automatic means raising or lowerwhereby this independent the main condu t ing of the temperature in With this object in view the invention consists of a high and low temperature conduit, each delivering into a third or main conduit, each'of said high and low temperature conduits', being provided with a valve controlling the passage of the heating or refrigerab a motor for opersaid valves independently of each ating.

and automatic mechanism controlled other,

by the temperature in or emanating from the main conduit for selecting or determining which of said valves shall ally stating the construction by which'this is'accomplished there is a motor which, for the purpose of illustration is herein shown as an electrical motor, geared with a main operating shaft, which motor isprovided with clutch mechanism whereby it may be connected to and caused to operate a shaft imparting motion to either of the respective valves in the .hi h or low temperature conduits. Prefera'b y'the clutch mechanism, when an electrical motor is emplo ed, is of the class known as magnetic clutc and as here shown there are two of such clutches, one for connecting themain ower shaft to each of the shafts for operating the respectivevalves. The current for operating the motor is made to pass it is desired to oper te, but is" autobe operated, and" the direction of operation thereof. Specific throughthe magnetic -.olu'tch mechanism oft particular valve Patented Sept. '7, 1909. filed November 20, 1905. Serial No. 288,255.

matically shunted around the magnetic clutch of the valve which it isdesired should not be operated, and the direction of the current through the motor, and hence the direction in which the particular valve is operated thereby, is controlled by a temperature device subject to the influence of the medium (whether heating or refrigerating) in or emanating from the main'conduit. There is also provided, as in my previous apparatus, automatic stop mechanism which, when the valve being operated has reached the desired limit of' its throw, acts to cut off the power from the motor and stop the operation.

The particular arrangement and construction of the apparatus will hereinafter be more specifically described.

It willbe understood that the inventive idea is capable of being embodied in a valarged scale; Fi 3 is a detail of the part of the apparatus fbr switching the main current through or around the magnetic clutch mechanism, as may be desired; Fig. 4 is a detall of one of the valve stems and the gearing connected thereto; Fig. '5 is a sectional detail showing the means for automatically controlling the motor by the temperature in or emanating from the 'main conduit, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing a series of stills and valve mechanism therefor.

Referring to the drawings,in which like numerals indicate like parts, 1 is a conduit for the -low temperature current, 2 is the conduit for the hlgh temperature current, which two conduits unite or deliver into the main conduit 3 which leads to any suitable place where the heating or refrigerating effect of the medium is to be utilized, here shown as forminga coll 4 1n a stlll 5, shown in section 1n Fig. 1.

Inthe low temperature conduit 1 is a valve 6 and in high temperature conduit 2 is a valve 7, whose'respective valve stems 8 and 9 pro-. ject outwardly and are provided with screwthreads, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

An electrical motor 10, which is preferably a series wound motor, has on the end of its shaft 11 a small gear wheel 12 get. ring with a large gear wheel .13 keyed to the main driving shaft 14, which shaft 14 has thereon a worm 15 gearing withgear teeth on a segmental gear 16, to which segmental gear 4 there is secured an arm 18. This arm 18 carries near its outer extremities four 0011-.

2 and 3), contact with four brass strips suitably insulated from and supported upon a base 20. Two of these brass strips 21 are connected by suitable wire 22, 22, with the two members of the magnetic clutch-23, one of said members being secured to the main shaft 14 and the other being secured to ashaft 24: having on its other end a worm 25 gearing with a worm gear 26 which has at its hub or center a nut 27 on the screwthreaded-stem 8 of the low temperature valve (5, all as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The other two brass strips 28 are connected by wires 29, 29 to clutch mechanism 30, one of the members of which clutch is secured to the shaft 14 and the other of which is secured to the shaft 31 having the worm 32 connected to and operating the Valve stem of the valve 7 precisely as the worm 25 is connected to and operates the valve stem of the valve 6, as above described.

The direction in which either one of the valves 6 or 7 will be operated by the mechanism just described will depend upon the direction of the current passing through the motor; and when the motor is in operation and neither of the magnetic clutches 23 and 24 is energized or rendered operative as a clutch, the main shaft 14 will be. operated by the motor without affecting either of the shafts 24 or 31 and hence without operating either of the 'valves 6 011-7. If, however, the clutch 23 is rendered effective or operative, the shaft 25 and the valve 6 will be operated, the direction in which said valve moves depending upon the direction of the current through the motor, as above stated; and if the clutch 30 is operative while the clutch 23 is not, then the valve 7 will be operated, its 10 5 direction of movement being likewise dependent upon. the direction of the current through the motor.

The contact points 19 on the arm 18 of the segment 16 are in electrical contact with'the two pairs of brass strips 21 and 28 when the arm 18 is in the medial position, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,'and the said brass strips afford a pathof less resistance to the passage of the current than is offered by the mechanism of the magnetic clutches 23 and 30.

It follows that when the contact points 19 bear upon both pairs of brass strips connected with the respective clutches, no current will pass through said clutches but will take-the line of least resistance through the brass strips, and hence the magnetic clutches will not be energized. If, how,- ever, the arm 18 is swung a slight distance either to the right or to the left, the contact points 19 carried thereby will pass 011' of one pair of brass strips 21 or 28, as the case maybe, while remaining in contact with the other pair, and the only path for the current coming in over the main wire 33 tact points have passed. Thus, for exambe assumed that the parts arein shown in Fig. 2: current passing 33 will.pass via wire 29 to strips 28, through the conple, let it the position in over the wire the pairof brass nected contact points bearing on said strips to the wire 29 and thence via the wire 34 to but not through the clutch 23, via the wire 22, to the pair of contact points bearing on the pair ofbrass strips 21 and via the wire 22 to the wire 35 leading directly to the motor, thus setting the motor in operation, and by reason of the consequent revolution of the shaft 14 the segment 16 will be swung around say to the right, carrying one pair of contact points oif of the pair of brass strips .21, but leaving the other pair contact ing with the pair of brass strips 28. As soon as the contact points 19 have passed from the pair of brass strips pass via the wire 33, wire 29, contact points 19, brass strips 28, wire 29, back to but not through the clutch mechanism 30,- and this clutch mechanism would therefore remaininactive and the revolution of shaft 14 would not impart revolution to shaft 31. Current, however, would pass from the wire 29 tothe wire 34 and thence to the clutch mechanism 23.; Inasmuch as the contact points 19 do not bear upon the brass strips. 21, the current could not pass through the wires 22, 22, and would therefore be compelled to pass. through the magnetic clutch 23, energizing the same, and clutching the shaft 14 to the shaft 25, the current'passing from the clutch ,23 via wire 35 to themotor. This would result in the operation of -the shaft 25 and the valve 6 operatively connected thereto. Had the current passed through the motor in a reverse direction, the clutch 23 would have remained inactive, the clutch 30 would have been energized. and the'valve 7 operated, as will'bereadily un-, derstood. I V

For the purpose of determining-thedirection of the current through the motor 10, a pair of switches 36, 37, Fig; 1, are employed. One member of the switch 36 is carried on the front of a pair of electromagnets 38, the other member of the switch. being carried on armature 39 of said magnets, and likewise one member'of the switch 37 is carried on the end of electromagnets 40 while the other I member is carried on the armature 41 of sa d magne: 40. v a

Our nt for ener izing the electromagnets 38 and 40 is ad from any suitab e source, here shown as abattery 42; and

' means automatically controlled by the temperature in or emanating from-the main .con

duit '3 are provided for directing the energizing current through either the -electro- 21, the current would magnet 38 or the electromagnet 40, as the case may be, whereby one of such magnets will be energized while the other is inactive or if the temperature in the main conduit is precisely at the desiredpoint both-of said magnets 38 and 40 will remain inactive. For

the purpose .of thus'controlling the energization of the magnets 38 and 40, and hence the throwing of the switches 36 and 37 controlled thereby respectively, there is provided a U-tube 43, shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which tube is partially filled with mercury, said mercury bein in electrical contact with the terminal of te wire'44 leading to one side, here shown as the positive side, of the battery 42, the mercury being always in contact with the terminal of the wire 44. One

le as 46 of the U-tube 43, is open to the atinosphere at its end and has supported therein in any suitable manner an electrode- 47, capable of being adjusted up and down by any suitable means, as by a set-screw 48; the other end and has leading thereinto an air-tube 50 which leads through. a hermetic joint. 51 to in the form of a bulb composed of copper or other suitable conductor of heat, which airleg 49 of the U-tube is closed at its the interior of'an air-chamber 52, preferably 7 chamber 52 is preferably located either within the main conduit 3 or within the chamber or medium whose temperature is to be determined by the temperatureof chamber 52 is located directly inthe main conduit, but it might with equal efiect be located in the material to be distilled within the still 5 where. it would be subjected to the temperature emanating from the main conduit 3. There is also located either in the main conduit, or in the material whose tem perature is to be controlled thereby, an open socket 53'sub ject to the same influences-as the air-chamber 52. This socket 53 is in the form of a tube closed on its inner end but open at its outer end, and within the same theremay be placed a thermometer 54 for determining the temperature of the heating side thereof opposite to that in which the wire 44 is connected is a wire 57 connected to the electrode 47 and a wire 58 connected to an electrode-59 within the leg 49 of the -U-' said main conduit. As shown, the airor refrigerating mediumpin the conduit 3 or 1 tube 43, the lower ends of the electrodes 47 and 59 being approximately upon the same level.

When the valve 56 is open the mercury in the U-tube will stand at the same level in each of the legs 46 and 49 of'said tube, and out of contact with both of the electrodes 47 and 59 If, however, the valve 56 is closed the air in the air-chamber 52 will be affected by the temperature of the medium in the main conduit 3 or Within the still 5 as the case may be, and the airin said airchamber 52 and consequently in the leg 49 of the .U-tube 43 will be either expanded or contracted, depending upon whether the temperature in the chamber 52 has been raised .or lowered after the closlng of the valve 56. Assuming, forthe sake of illus 'tratlou, that the temperature 1n the main conduit 3 has increased, the air in the airchamber 52 would be subject to this rise of temperature and would consequently be caused to expand and would exert an increased pressure upon the surface of the mercury in the leg 49 of the U-tube, thereby depressing that surface slightly and causing the surface of the mercury in the leg 46 of the U-tube to rise, and when this has been carried to a suflicient degree the mercury would contact with the lower end of the electrode 47 and thereby close the circuit from the battery 42 through the wire 44, the mercury in the U-tube, the electrode 47 and the wire 57, thus energizingthe electromagnet 38 and causing it'to attract its armature and close the switch 36. This condition of affairs is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. Should, however, the temperature within the main conduit 3 fall, the air in the chamber 52 would have its temperature lowered with a resultant lowering of the pressure on the mercury in the leg 49 of the U-tube, thus causing the atmospheric pressure in the open Referring to Fig.1, 60 and 60 are wires leading to the opposite sides of the armature "of the motor, and 61 is a conductor leading to the series winding of the motor, while 62 is the return w-ire leading to the main source of current. 1 Referring to Fig. 2, 63 and 64 are a pair of switches held normally closed by springs 65', 65. One member of the switch 63 is connected to wire 66 while the other member is connected to a wire 66 and one member of the switch 64 is connected to a wire 67 and the other member of said switch is connected to a wire 67 'lheseswitches 63 and ,64. are supported on suitable standards 4 68 and 69 from which they are properly insulated and have a pair of pins 70 and 71 mounted so as to have sliding movement through the insulation 011 which the switches are supported, the ends of said pins being in the line of movement of arms? 2, 73, carried on the segment 16. These aptns are preferably adjustable by means of the engagement of their hub-like ends with pins 74 and 7 5' on said segment to which pins they are connccted, as by set-screws, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. When the segment 16 is movement in either direction, the arm 72 or 73, as the case may be. contacts with one or. the other of the pins 7 O or 71 and forces thrown around to near the limit of its desired the same against the switch 63 or 64 and opens the switch against the tension of the springs 65 or 65 associated with said switch. But when the arms 72 or 73 are out of contact with the said pins 70 or'71,

the switches are held closed by the tension of springs 65, 65, and the current 1s free to pass through said switches, as wil'libe I Fig. 1, there is a branch readily understood.

Turnmg now to wire 74 connected at the point 75 to the line wire 62 and the automatic stop wire 6.7,1

said branch wire being-connected at-binding post 76 to the contact point 77 v c'arried by one member of the switch 36 which, when said switch is closed, is in electrical connection with binding post 78' connected by a wire 79 to binding posts 80 in electrical connection with a branch wire 81 'connected to the wire 60. The wire 60;is connected by a branch wire 82 through contact points 83 with a wire 84 connected through contact points 85 with the automatic stop wire 66. In like manner the automatic stop wire 67 is connected through contact points 86with the wire 87 on switch 37, which wire 87 is connected through contact points 88 to the wire 60. through contact points 89 with a wire 90 and through contact points 91 with automatic stop wire 66, the above-defined connections beingcompleted only when the respective switches'are closed and the connections being broken when the respective switches are open.

Operation: In the operation of the device it will, of course, be understood that the Likewise the wire 60 is connected temperature of the medium flowing through the high temperature conduit is above and ing wires 44 and 58.

tube to the battery 42 are capable of being beled in the draw ngs adjusters, which switches are controlled by any suitable switch mechanism, as a press-button. These switches are shown. at 93 which is a normally open switch capable of being closed b a press-button. to connect wires 44 and 5 and at 94 which is alike switch connect- It will be understood that the circuit from the battery may be closed through these ergizing electromagnets 38 and 40 for closing the respective switches controlled by said magnetsu Let it (Fig. l) controlling conduits 1 and 2 were so adjusted when their stems were connected .to the shafts 24 and 31, as to permit approximately the right amounts of low and high temperature medium-to pass through conduits 1 and 2 to obtain the desired temperature in "main conduit 3. This would place each of the yalves iii a partly open position at the commencement of the operation. The valve 56 in the vent conduit 55 being turned so as to place the leg 49 'of the U- tube in communication with the atmosphere, the operator observes the temperature indicated by the thermometer 54, and if it is above the desired temperature in the main conduit he proceeds to operate the device so as to adjust one orthe other of the valves 6 or 7 to lower the temperature; or, if the temperature isbelow that desired in the main conduit, he adjusts one or the other of the valves 6 or 7 to raise the temperature in the main conduit. Let it be assumed, for example, that the temperature is higher in the main conduit than is desired. In this case the operator presses the adjuster button 93, thereby closing the circuit through wires, 44 and 57 and energizing magnet 38,

- causing'it to attract its armature and thereby close the circuit through the switching contact points at the switch 36. Thereupon current passes in over the main wire 33 to, but notthrough the clutch 30,- along wire 29,

contact points bearing upon brass strips 28,

wires-29f and '34 to wire'22 contact pointsbearing upon brass strips 21, wires 22 and to the a series field of lthe motor, out field wire 61 and along said wire stop wire out over tact points 85, wire 84, contact points 83, wire 82, to armature wire 60, through the armature of the motor, out'pver armature 66 through the automatic stop 63,

.wire 60, to the wire 81through the contact oints 80, wire 79, and contact points 78 and 76 to the wire 74 and point 75, and thence to the line wire 62. Inasmuchas the current does not pass through either of the clutches 23 or 30, the revolution of the shaft switches, thereby enbe assumed that valves 6 and7 .upon themercury in by closing the automatic stop wire .66,-coi'idicated, when the operator closed the by pushing the adjuster 14 imparted to it'by the motor 10 will not actuate either of the shafts 24 or 31, and hence neither of the valves 6 or 7. The shaft 14, however, the motor in such a direction as to shift the arm 18 say from right to left in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby throwing-the contact points 19 off of brass strips 28. As soon as this occurs .the current can no longer pass via wires 29, 29, since the circuit will be broken when the contact points move off of'the brass strips 28, and the current will therefore pass through the magnetic clutch 30 and this clutch will be energized, thus connecting the shafts 14 and 31 and operating the high temperature valve so as to partially close the same. By this means the temperature in the main conduit will be lowered until it reaches the whereupon the operator "removes his finger .from the push-button 93, thereby permittin the switch connecting the wires 44 and 5 to open, deenergizing electromagnet 38 and permitting switch 36 to open and thusinterrupting current to the motor and stopping the same. The air in the air-bulb 52 will be expanded by the temperature in the main conduit 3, and as soon as the valves have been adjusted so that the temperature in the main conduit is at the pointdesired,

the operator closes the valve 56. At the time'the valve is thus closed the mercury in the U-tube willbe at the same level in both legs and just out of contact with both of the electrodes 47 and 59, and since no current is flowing from the battery 42 through either of the electro-magnets 38 or 40, both of the switches 36 and 37 will be open.

' Still referring to Fig. 1, let it be assumed that the device 1s in operation, and that for will be set in motion by 1 degree desired,

any reason the temperature in the main conduit3 rises above that in the main conduit at the time the stop-cock in the escape nozzle 55was closed. In that case the air in the air-chamber or bulb 52 would be further expanded .by the rise of temperature in the main conduit, thus increasing the pressure the leg 49 of the tube, depressing the same and correspondingly raising the mercury in the leg 46 of said tube, thus causing the mercury in said leg 46 to contact with the electrode 47, there- I the circuit from the battery 42 through the wires 44 and 57 and energizing the magnet 38 and closing the switch 36.

.This is the condition of affairs illustrated'in Figs. 1 and 5 of the. drawings. When this 7 occurs, current will pass in over the wire 33, taking the same course precisely as above incircuit button 93, and the motor would be operatecl 'to move the valve 7 toward closed positiomand would continue to so operate until the valve 7 was entirely closed, or until the temperature in or ema nating from the main conduit was'lowered to the degree to which the device was set to I operate when the valve56 was closed. Vhen spondingly lowered and the contraction of the air in said air-bulb (and consequently in the leg 49 of the U -tube) would lower the pressure in said tube .to a point where it would just counterbalance the atmospheric pressure in the open leg 46, when the mer cury in said leg 46 would fall away from the electrode 47; and while the mercury would also be raised in the leg 49 it would not be raised to a point sufiicient to contact with the electrode 59. The circuit from the battery 42 through the electromagnet 38 would therefore be broken and the switch 36 would be opened, thus interruptingthe circuit to the motor, thereby stopping the motor and leaying the valve 7 in its partially closed position, and valve 6 open. Under these circumstances, should the temperature in the main conduit fall below the degree to which the device was set, the mercury in the leg 49 of the U-tube would rise by reason of the contraction of the air in such leg and the atmospheric pressure in the leg 46, thus closing the circuit through wires 44 and 58 and energizing the magnet 40. In this case the switch 37 would be closed while the switch 36 would be opened, and current would pass over wire 33 through the magnetic clutch 30 and wire 34 to the clutch I 23, but not through the same, wire 22, brass strips 21, and contact points 19, wire 22 and wire 35 to the motor as before, through the series field of the motor and series-field wire 61 to the point 92 and thence to contact I points 91, wire 90, contact points 89, out over wire 60 to, the armature'of the motor, out through armature wire '60 to contact .points 88, wire 87, contact points 86, automatic stop wire 67, through the automatic stop 64, thence through wire 67 to the point 75, and thence out over the line wire 62; This would cause the motor to operate in the reverse direction from that described above (when moving valve 7 toward closed position) thereby swinging the arm 18 from left to right, 2'. 6;, back toward the medial position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Since the contact points 19 are oil of strips 28 the clutch 30 will be energized and valve 7 will be moved toward open position. This movement of the valve 7 may continue till the valve 7 is fully opened,'unless in the meantime the temperature in the main conduit 3 rises to the degree to which the device is. set. Should the temperature still be too low, the

. arm 18 would continue to move from left to 30 and disconnectingthe motor fromvalve- 7, and as soonas the contact points 19 leave the brass strips 21 the clutch 23 is energized, thereby connecting the power shaft 14 with the shaft 24 which operatesthe low temperature valve 6, thus shlfting said valve toward closed position and thereby decreasing the amount of low temperature fluid delivered to the main conduit from the low temperature conduit 1, and thus raising the temperature in the main conduit. This will cause the mercury in both legs of the U-tube to return to a common level, thus breaking contact with electrode 59, opening switch 37 .and stopping the motor.

position. -As soon, however, as the contact points 19 leave either the brass strips 21 or 28, the clutch 23 or- 30, as the case may be, is immediately energized and the shaft which operates the valve. in connection with said clutch is actuated. It therefore fol.- lows that if the motor has been stopped when the arm 18 is shifted from its medial position only the valve toward which it has been shifted is in operative relation with the motor. For example, if the arm 18 is shifted toward the high temperature valve and it is desired to lower the temperature, this can be accomplished by moving the high temperature valve towa rd closed position; or, if it is desired to increase the temperature, by moving said valve toward its open position.

Should the arm 18 be shifted around to its extreme position, or to the position which would give the extremev throw to either the higher the low temperature valve,

it is desirable that the motor should be stopped in order to avoid the straining of the parts or the burning out ofthe motor, and this is accomplished by the automatic stop switches 63 or 64, as the case maybe, the arm 72 or 73 contacting with the pins 70 or 71' and acting to open the automatic stop switch corresponding to said pins and thus breaking the circuit to the motor and stopping the same. It will thus, be ob served that afterthe .device is once set in operation by the workman in charge, it will automatically control the temperature in the main conduit, and experience has demonstrated that minute variations in said main conduit, even so small as the fractional part of a degree will be suflicient to shift one or the other of the valves 6 or 7 so as 1 but a single still is shown, understood that the use of main. conduit and by the operation of the valve-regulating I prevail in the coil of the .the branch to correct the slight variation in the main conduit, the whole working automatically without any further attention whatever from the operator.

It will be understood that the expressions high temperature and low temperature herein employed, are merely relative, indicating that the temperature in one o the conduits is above that desired in the main conduit, while the temperature in the other conduit is below that desired in said main conduit, and not as indicating that one is excessivelyhigh or the other excessively low.

While in the diagrammatic drawing, Fig. it must not be the device is limited to a single still, as several such devices may be employed in connection with a series of stills. For example, in Fig. 6

is illustrated a series of three stills 97 98 and 99, andleading through the boiler 100 is a pipe 101 entering a superheater 102, while a branch pipe 103 leads off from the pipe 101 before it enters the superheater. Leading from the superheater is a pipe 104 conveying superheated steam. The pipe 103 is supplied with boiler steam, and constitutes the low temperature conduit, whilethe pipe 104 is supplied with superheated steam, and constitutes the high emperature con duit. These two pipes are controlled by valves 105, 100, respectively, which valves are operated by the valve-regulating motormechanism 107 of the type and construction illustrated in Figs. late the temperature of the steam passing through the main conduit 108 leading directly into the still 97 After passing through still 97 the steam in said main conduit will have its' temperature materially reduced, and is conducted by way. of conduit 109 to still 98. Pipes 110,111, closed valves 110, 111,

109 leading into the coils of the communicate wit the; still 98,

motor-mechanism 112 the amount of boiler steam or superheated steam necessary to lower or raise the temperature inthe still 98 to the desired oint is admitted to the conduit 109. In this way the temperature of the heating medium passing out of still 97 and through pipe 109 islowered or raised to a temperature which it is desired shall still 98. y In a simi lar way the temperature of the'steam issuin byway of pipe 113 from still 98 is lowere or "raised by the admission of boiler steam from pipe 108 or superheated steam from ipe 114 by means of valveoperating an regulating device 115, so that the'steam flowing through conduit still 99 shall be maintained at the desired temperature.

f justed for the same temperature in each 1 -5, inclusive, to ,reguthe three stills 97 98, 99 should be the same, since by adjusting the U-tube in connection with each of the valve-operating mechanisms 107, 112, 115, different temperatures may be supplied to the three stills, though, if desired, the three regulators may be ad o the stills.

Itwill be apparent that the oflice of the valve-adjusting and regulating devices 112 and 115 will be that merely of. operating the valves which control the supply of steam flowing through pipes 110-111 or 103-114 into the stills 98-99, respectively, so that should it be desired to invariably raise or steam" enters the next still the valves con-' trolling the steam supply-not used may be ignored or omitted," r

Preferably the steam issuing from the last still inthe series is connected by a pipe, as 117, to a boiler in order that the heat of the water resulting from the condensed steam may be thus eco'nomized and hot rather than cold watersupplied to the boiler.

shall have its 'origln by the inter-mixture of having normally 113 into high and low temperature mediums through the means of theparticular valve mechanism shown in Figs. 1 t0 5 nor is it essential that the cooling or refrigerating medium flowing through conduit 109 shall have been composed of a mixture of hi hand low temperature mediums. It is only essential that there shall be a conduit of the character of that indicated at 108 leading into a still, as be found desirable to raise or lower forthe purposes for which it is to be applied in the still or other chamber to which it isto be conducted. In other words, the valve mechanism of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and diagramto any current of heating or refrigerating medium which is" being conducted to the still, or other chamber or locality 'where it is. to be employed without regarding the origin .of said current or medium, and without regard to whether it has been previously utilized-for any purpose or not.

In some conditions the high and low temperature conduits niay" be led into the main conduit in advance of the point where the high and low temperapreviously employed in a still or have been.

98, the heat medium in which conduit it may matically shown at 112 and 115, is applicable i of use branches from It is not essential that the temperature in I invariably lower the temerature before the I receptacle for condensed steam 118 which is in direct connection with the The valve mechanisms 107, 112 and 115 I i gree itis desired to have when it enters still- 99, the precise degree desired being secured through the automatic action of valve-regulating mechanism 115.

Yhat I claim is:

1. The combination of a main conduit,

high and low temperature conduits leading thereinto, independent valve mechanisms controlling said high and low temperature conduits. a motor, means separately connecting said motor to each of said valve mechanisms, and a. thermostatic device subject to the temperature in or emanating from said main conduit-and controlling the operation of said motor.

2-. The combination of a main conduit, and high and low temperature conduits leading thereinto, with independent valve mechanisms controlling said high and low tempcraturc conduits, an electric 1\]()t() means separately connecting each of said valve mechanisms to said motor, anda thermostatic device subject to the temperature in or emanating from said main conduit andcontrolling the admission of current to and the direction thereof through the motor.

3.. The' combination of a main conduit and .high and low temperature conduits, with separate'valves controlling said high and low temperature conduits, a motor, a shaft driven thereby, means separately connecting said shaft to said valves, and a thermostatic de vice subject to the temperature in or emanating from said main conduit and controlling the starting, stopping and direction ofm'oveinent of said motor. I

4. The combination of a main conduit, high and low temperature conduits, and separately operable valves in said high and low temperature conduits, with the motor, a power shaft driven thereby, clutch mechanism independently connecting said power shaft to said valves and a thermostatic device subject to the temperature in or emanating from the main conduit and controlling the admission of power to and the direction of movement of said motor.

5. The combination of a main conduit, high and low temperature conduits connected thereto, a valve in each of said last named conduits, a motor, a power shaft driven thereby and normallydisconnected from said valves, and means controlled by said power shaft and operating to connect one or the other of said valves to said shaft.

6. The combination of a mam conduit, a

high and a low ten'iperature conduit de'livmeans for connecting the low temperature valve to said motor upon the operation of said motor, and means for admitting power to said motor to operate it in either direction.

i 7. The combination of a main conduit, a high and a low temperature conduit delivering thereinto, valves controlling eaclrof said high and low temperature conduits, a motor normally disconnected from said valves, means for connecting the high and means for-connecting the low temperature valve to said motor upon the operation of said motor, and manually operated means for admitting power tosaid motor to operate it in either direction.

8. The combination of a mainconduit, a high and a low temperature conduit delivering thereinto, valves in said last named conduits, a motor operatively connected to one of said valves, means controlling the admission of power to and cutting off power from said motor, automatically operated devices controlling said means, and manually operate'd devices for preliminarily controlling said means to initially adjust said valve.

9. The combination of a main conduit,

high and low temperature conduits-leading thereinto, a valve controlling said high temperature conduit, a motor operatively connected to said valve, manually operated means admitting power to said motor in either direction to adjust said valve so as to secure the desired degree of temperature in the main conduit, and automatic means admitting power to said motor to operate it in either direction to maintain the desired temperature in the main conduit.

1O. The combination of a main conduit conveying a medium subject to temperature variation, achamber through which said main conduit passes and in which the temperature of the medium in the main conduit is changed, a second chamber through which said main conduit also passes, a second conduit leading into the main conduit after the latter leaves said first chamber said second conduit conveying a medium for varying temperature, a valve in said second conduit,

a motor operatively connected to said valve,

and a therniostatic device exposed to the temperature in or emai'iatmg from saidmam conduit and controlling the operation of said.

motor.

11. The combination of a series of stills, a boiler, and asuperheater with a conduit leading boiler steam through said superheater,-a second. conduit conveying boiler steam, a valve controlling said boiler steam conduit and a valve controlling said superheated steam conduit, a third or main conduit into which said last mentioned conduits lead, said main conduit leading through the stills of said series, a motor operatively connected to said valves, a thermostatic device controlling said motor, a second conduit-conveyingsuperheated steam second conduit conveying boiler steam to said main conduit, each of said last named conduits leading into the main conduit after it leaves the first still of the series, valves controlling said last named superheated and boiler steam conduits, a motor operatively connected to said last mentioned valves, and a thermostatic device exposed to the temperature in or emanating from said main conduit and controlling. said motor.

12. The combination of a main conduit a medium subject to temperature variation. a second conduit leading into the main conduit and conveying amedium of higher degree in temperature than that in the main conduit, a third conduit also leading into the main' conduit and conveying a medium of lower degree in temperature'than that of the, main conduit, valves controlling said second and third conduits, a motor in operative relation with said valves and capable of operating the same independently, and a thermostatic device exposed to the tem erature in or emanating from the main con uit and "controlling the operation of said motor.

13, The combination of a' plurality of chambers, a main conduit passing through said chambers, a high and a low temperature conduit each leading into said main conduit at a point between two of said chambers, independent valves controlling said high and low temperature conduits, a motor oper atively connectible to either of said valves, a thermostatic device exposed to the temperato said main condu1t,'av

ture in or emanating from the main conduit and controlling the application of power to said motor, and means automatically connecting one or the other of said valves to the motor when the latter is operated.

14. The combination of a plurality of chambers, a main conduit passing through said chambers, a high and a low temperature conduit each connected to said main conduit by a plurality of branches intermemanually oper- 1 5. The combination of two chambers, a

main conduit conveying a medium subject to temperature, variation and passing from one chamber to the other, a second conduit leading into the main conduit and conveying a medium differing in temperature from that in the main conduit, a valve controlling said second conduit, a motor in operative relation with said valve, and a thermostatic de- .vice subject to the temperature of or emanating from the medium in the main conduit and automatically controlling the ad'- missionof power to said motor.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. D. PENNiMAN.

Witnesses:

JACOB VEAX, RoB'r. H. MARKEY. 

